Cooling apparatus



H. G. JANCSY COOLING APPARATUS July so, 1929.

2 Sheets-Sheet Filed June 12,I 1926 ,IN`` lll '1111111111 111111111111111' Il 11111,'11"

July 30, 1.929.

H. G. JAN'sY COOLING APPARATUS Filed June l2 1926 2 Sheets-Shezat 2 l. l 1 1 1 l l 1 l 1 J [Maraini/wf Patented July 30, 1929.

UNITED stares tiras-7e arena" ortica HENRY Gr. JANCsY, OF EVERET'L, MASSACHUSETTS.

COOLING APPARATUS. y

Application filed June 12,

The invention relates to a cooling method and apparatus essentiallyv adapted for keeping frozen articles such as ice cream during.

transport-ation by truck or wagon.

lilfficiency7 saving of space and economy are the objective ends desired to be obtained by the invention, the especial object being to provide an efficient and economical cooling system with a simple and compact apparatus 10 without the use of ice and without'the use of a refrigerating machine located on the truck or wagon. f

As will later be more fully explained in the light of the drawings, the objects of the v invention are attained by providing the truck or wagon with a cooling unit within which a- This cooling fixture is located in'or in cooling Y relation to a cooling compartment within which the ice cream or article'to be cooled is kept and the connection ofthe fixture with the tank is such that as the temperature ofV the refrigerant in the fixure exceeds that of the refrigerant in the tank, circulation of the refrigerant will ensue, the warmer refrigerant rising from the fixture and flowing back into the tank and the cooler refrigerant passing from the tankl intothe fixture, a circulation of the fluid refrigerant being thereby created. i

With a cooling unit of the above character installed on the truck or wagon van intensive circulation of the refrigerant cooled to a relatively low temperature is effected from a point outside the wagon. This refrigerant contained in a separate receptacle7 is cooled by any of the well known types of refrigerating machine and is circulated through the cooling unit on the truck or wagon by means of a pump. This circulation is continued until such time as the-coolingfunit and the walls of the insulated compartment in which it is contained are thoroughly cooled, or, in other words, cooled approximately to the lowA temperature of the refrigerant being circu-` lated through the unit. After such time, the outside means for edecting circulation of the fluid then being cut off, the unit is sealed with the fluid refrigerant left in it sufficient to fill the tank and cooling fixture connecting with 1926. Serial No. 115,416.

it, space onlyy being left for expansion, and afterward circulation of the refrigerant will continue throughout the unit when the temperature in the fixture exceeds that of the tank in accordance with the constructive principle of the unit as above explained.

Referring now to the drawings Figure l is auvertical cross section of the insulated chamber and cooling unit therein as established on the truck or wagon. Shown also in this figure in elevation are parts illustrative of the manner in which a fluid refrigerant may be circulated through the cooling unit from a point outside the truck or wagon.

Fig. 2 is a cross section onthe line 2-2 of Fig. l, and

Fig. 8 is a cross section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

l represents the insulated casing which surrounds the cooling unit located on the truck or wagon.` This casing is preferably rectangular in form with walls made double and insulating material between them. The casing may form a part of the body structure.

of the vehiclel or it may be an independent,

structure'placed within or upon the vehicle body. The, casing is'also provided with a door 2 through which access is had tothe chamber of the casing.

The chamber of the casing is preferably divided into two separate compartments It and 5 respectively, one above the other, and separated by a partition `6. The lower of these compartments or the compartment 5 is that in which the articles to be kept cool'are placed, access being` had to the compartment through the door 2 of the casing.

` Locatedin the upper compartment l and resting on the partition 6 is a tank 7 of some 'considerable size.

Connecting with the tank 7 and located within the lower -compartment 5 in surrounding relation to the article or articles placed within it, is a cooling fixture 8. This fixture preferably comprises a number' of hollow metal plates or slabs 9.. The plates are arranged on end standing in an upright position, resting on the bottom of the casing. The plates are connected at the top and bottom by hollow pipe connections l0.

. Extending from the bottom of the tank is a pipe connection 1l which extends into the interior of one of the hollow plates and preferably to a point well down inside it, but terminating at a point removed from the bottom of the plate.

Extending from the top of one of the hollow plates 10 and preferably one of the plates other than that into which the pipe connection 11 is extended, is a pipe connection 12 which connects with the sideV ofthe tank at a point just below its top, leaving a space between the point where this connection enters the tank and the top wall of the tank.

' Closing an opening 13 in the top of the tank is a plug 14 bearing a cock 15. Access is had to this cock for turning' it through an opening 16 in the top wall of the casing, which opening is normally closed by a plug 17.

*Extending from the side of the tank to a point outside the casing is a-pipe connection 18. This pipe connection at a point outside the casing is provided with a valve 19 for controlling the passage through the pipe'yThe pipe connection 18 extends from the side of the tank at a point substantially7 the same distance removed from the top of the tank as is the pipe connection 12. A pipe connection 20, like the pipe connection 18, extends through and outside the casing from one of the plates 10, preferably at a point near the `bottom of this plate. The pipe connection 2O outside the casing is provided with a valve 21 for controlling the passage through it.

In order that the cooling unit may be especially effective, it is desired that the tank together with the cooling fixture have such capacity as will contain some considerable quantity of refrigerant. In practice a capacity of 75 gallons has been found to be effective.y

Referring now to the charging of the cooling unit 23 represents a charging tank. This tank is preferably of a size to contain a large quantity of refrigerant or several times the amount of refrigerant required to charge any onecooling unit. Its interior is equipped with coils 24 through which a cooling fluid passed from the refrigerating machine 25,V

shown diagrammatically. In this connection it will be explained that the charging tank 23 and refrigerating machine 25 are both located at the home station or point 1 ible connection or hose 29. Extending also from the charging tank preferably at a point hose 32.

near the top of this tank, is a pipe connection 30 having in it a valve 31. Connection is established between this pipe and the pipe 18 by means of a removable pipe connection or The general operation is as follows It will be assumed that a wagon or truck be circulated through the cooling unit on the truck or wagon, the refrigerant entering by way of the pipe 2O into the cooling fixture 8 and passing out by way of the pipe `18 from the topof the tank 7 and rreturning to the charging tank.'` The cooling of the refrigerant and its circulation throughthecooling unit is continued until the refrigerant has reached the desired low degree of temperature and also until the cooling unit and the walls of the insulated compartment in which it is contained are thoroughly cooled or cooled approximately to the low temperature of the refrigerant being circulated through the unit. After suchtime the refrigerating machine andpump are stopped and the valves 21 and 27 closed, leaving the cooling unit filled with the refrigerant. Thereupon the plug 17 is f removed from the top of the casing and the cock15 in the top of thetank 7 opened. This permits a portion of the refrigerant in the `tank to iow back into the charging tank by way of the pipe connection-s 18, 32 and 30 unl til the refrigerant reaches a point below the inlet kof the pipe 18 from the tank, thus establishing thelevel of the refrigerant left in the tank which is below the top of the vtank and leaving a space for permitted expansion of the refrigerant as the temperature changes. The level of the refrigerant inthe tank 7'thus being established, the cock15 is closed, the plug 17 returned to close the opening in the casing land the valve 19 closed, thus sealing the cooling unit and completing its charging. The flexible pipesor hose 29 and 32 are then removed.' After this the refrigerant will continue to circulate in the cooling unit for keeping coo-l the cooling fixture as long as any cooling efficiency remains in the refrigerant. The efficiency of the cooling unit as a refrigerating medium under ordinary hot weather conditions will continue for some 10 or 12 hours 4depending upon thev temperature to which the refrigerant, thel cooling unity and adjacent walls of the insulated compartment have been initially cooled. In this connection it is preferred that they be initially cooled to a temperature of approximately ten degrees below zero.`

Any of the well known liquid refrigerants may be used. Of these a mixture of alcohol and water in the proportions of 50 `per cent alcohol to 50 per cent. water have been found to be especially good.

After the cooling unit has lost its efiiciency the wagon or truck is then returned to the charging station and the unit recharged7 the operation of recharging being carried out the same as before.

To prevent the fiuid refrigerant flowing out i of the bottom of the tank when the pump is stopped and before the valve 21 is closed, a ball valve 33 is preferably placed in the pipe 29.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States l. A cooling apparatus comprising an insulated casing having within it separate compartments arranged one above the other, a tank for containing a body of refrigerant located in the upper one of said compartments, a cooling xture arranged in the lower one of the compartments, a pipe connection leading from the bottom of the tank into the cooling fixture, and a pipe Iconnection leading from the cooling fixture back to the tank whereby the refrigerant within said tank will circulate from the tank through the fixture and back through the tank consequent upon thermal changes in the refrigerant, and valvecontrolled pipe 'connections leading from the tank and cooling fixture respectively with extension through the insulated casing whereby a refrigerant may be circulated through said tank and fixture from a point outside said casing.

2. A cooling apparatus comprising an insulated casing having within it separate compartments arranged one above the other, a tank for 'containing a body of refrigerant located in the upper one of said compartments, a cooling fixture arranged in the lower one of the compartments, a pipe connection leading from the bottom of the tank into the cooling fixture, a pipe connection leading from the cooling fixture back to the tank whereby the refrigerant within said tank will Icirculate from the tank through the fixture and back through the tank consequent upon thermal changes in the refrigerant, l and valve-controlled pipe connections leading from the tank and cooling fixture, respectively, with extension through the insulated casing whereby a refrigerant may be circulated through said tank and fixture from a point outside the casing, that one of said valve-controlled connections leading from the tank being arranged in position to determine the level of the refrigerant in said tank.

3. A cooling apparatus comprising an insulated casing having within it a Icooling compartment, a cooling fixture arranged inside the casing in cooling relation to said compartment, a tank for containing a body of refrigerant located within the casing above said fixture, pipe connections between the tank and fixture whereby a thermosyphonic Icirculation will be established between the tank and fixture for refrigerant contained therein, and valve-controlled connections leading from the tank and cooling fixture respectively with extension through the insulated casing whereby a refrigerant may be circulated through said tank and cooling fixture from a point outside said casing and afterward the refrigerant be left in the tank and cooling fixture to circulate therein by thermosyphonic action as aforesaid.

HENRY G. JANCSY. 

